Polymeric Surfactants Market size was USD 10.9 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 25.2 billion by the end of 2037, expanding at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of polymeric surfactants is evaluated at USD 11.6 billion.
The rising use of polymeric surfactants in agrochemicals, pesticides, rubber, and oil recovery is set to augment the overall polymeric surfactants market growth in the coming years. Enhanced solubility, stability, and resistance to hard water are some of the characteristics of polymeric surfactants contributing to their demand in industrial applications. The global agrochemical market stood at USD 82.85 million in 2023. This underscores that agrochemicals is a high-demand sector for polymeric surfactants.
|
Country |
Agrochemical Value in Exports (USD Billion) |
|
China |
11.0 |
|
India |
3.51 |
|
U.S. |
2.34 |
|
Germany |
2.61 |
|
France |
1.83 |
Source: OEC World
The analysis by the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) reveals that pesticides held the 96th position of the world’s most-traded product with a total valuation of USD 49.2 billion in 2022. The polymeric surfactants market concentration was around 4.32 based on Shannon Entropy. The top net exporters and importers in 2022 were China and Brazil, respectively.
|
Country |
Agrochemical Value in Imports (USD Million) |
|
Brazil |
6660 |
|
Canada |
2010 |
|
Australia |
1450 |
|
Russia |
795 |
|
Ukraine |
757 |
Source: OEC World
Growth Drivers
Challenges
|
Base Year |
2024 |
|
Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
|
CAGR |
6.7% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 10.9 billion |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 25.2 billion |
|
Regional Scope |
|
End use industry (Paints & Coatings, Cosmetics & Personal Care, Oil & Gas, Agrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Food, Rubber, Others)
Paints & coatings segment is anticipated to account for more than 27.8% polymeric surfactants market share by the end of 2037. The robust use of paints & coating products in construction, automotive, electronics, and manufacturing is directly augmenting the sales of polymeric surfactants. For instance, the American Coatings Association (ACA) revealed that around USD 2.9 billion in paint & coating products were exported in 2023. In 2022, USD 31.6 billion product shipments were totaled by U.S. paint and coating manufacturers. Furthermore, the global paints & coatings market was calculated at USD 179.98 billion in 2023 and is set to surpass USD 255.59 billion by 2032. Asia Pacific accounts for over 45.0% of global revenue share owing to urbanization trends. This highlights the growth in the paints and coatings sector is set to have a direct influence on the sales of polymeric surfactants.
Type (Natural, Synthetic)
The natural segment in polymeric surfactants market is anticipated to hold a dominating share throughout the forecast period. The organic and sustainability trend is augmenting the demand for natural polymeric surfactants. This safer type is most demanded in the personal care, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The strict regulations controlling the chemical industry are also one of the factors driving the sales of natural polymeric surfactants. The clean label and green chemistry importance are set to fuel the consumption of natural polymeric surfactants in the coming years. The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) analysis reveals that the organic surfactants captured 466th position as the most traded product, worldwide. Germany exported around USD 1.22 billion and China imported nearly USD 406.0 million worth of organic surfactants in 2022.
Our in-depth analysis of the polymeric surfactants market includes the following segments:
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Type |
|
|
Grade |
|
|
Application |
|
|
End use Industry |
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North America Market Forecast
North America in polymeric surfactants market is anticipated to account for more than 39.2% revenue share by the end of 2037. The increasing demand for personal care and household products, supportive government policies for green chemistry, and growing construction activities driving paint demand are collectively contributing to the overall polymeric surfactants market growth. The high oil and gas production and exploration activities are also augmenting the sales of polymeric surfactants in both the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., the rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products is a significant trend fueling natural polymeric surfactants. The importance of green chemistry is also propelling the sales of organic and biobased polymeric surfactants. The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) report estimated that around USD 1.14 billion of organic surfactants were exported from the U.S. in 2022, accounting for export value growth of 22.9%.
In Canada, high oil and gas exploration activities are directly pushing the demand for polymeric surfactants. The importance in enhanced oil recovery process and high energy demand are uplifting the use of polymeric surfactants. For instance, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers announced that over 300 exploration wells have been drilled in Atlantic Canada offshore to date. The oil production in the country amounted to 5.7 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2024. The oil sands captured around 57.0% of the total oil production, nearly 3.3 million b/d.
Asia Pacific Market Statistics
The Asia Pacific polymeric surfactants market is estimated to increase at the fastest pace during the projected period. The rapid growth of the chemical & petrochemical industry, swift industrialization, rise in infrastructure development projects, and technological innovations are some of the factors fueling the market growth. China and India are expected to offer profitable opportunities for polymeric surfactant manufacturers in the coming years. The booming personal care and skincare market is augmenting the profit shares of polymeric surfactant manufacturers in Japan and South Korea.
China is experiencing rapid growth in urban and industrial activities, which is augmenting the use of polymeric surfactants in several end use industries such as paints & coatings, personal care, textiles, laundry, and agrochemicals. The chemical pesticide production in the country totaled 306,000 metric tons in 2024. Shandong, Henan, and Hubei are major marketplaces for agrochemicals within the country.
India accounts for 6th position for chemical production globally and 3rd in Asia Pacific, making it a high-earning polymeric surfactants market. The demand for chemicals and petrochemicals is set to reach USD 1 trillion by 2040, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) analysis. The union interim budget 2024-25 allocated USD 23.13 million for the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals. Furthermore, after the U.S., Japan, and China, India is the 4th largest producer of agrochemicals. In Q2’24, India’s agrochemical exports amounted to USD 661.18 million.
The leading companies in the polymeric surfactants market are employing several organic and inorganic strategies to increase their revenue shares and market reach. Tactics such as new product launches, technological innovations, mergers & acquisitions, strategic collaborations and partnerships, and global expansions are primarily adopted by key polymeric surfactants market players. Collaborations and partnerships aid companies to develop innovative polymeric surfactants and attract a larger customer base. Global expansion owing to supportive investment policies attracts many polymeric surfactant manufacturers to build their manufacturing units.
Some of the key players include:
Author Credits: Rajrani Baghel
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